It took longer than expected due to transmission trouble on one of the three buses, but the LSU Tigers finally arrived at the Riverside Hilton to the delight of a few hundred fans and a six-piece jazz band as a welcoming committee. The No. 1-ranked Tigers (13-0) will play No. 2 Alabama (11-1) in a highly-anticipated rematch for the BCS title, which is where this Tiger team has seen itself for quite a while.

"There's no other place we wanted to play," LSU Coach Les Miles said. "The beginning of the year when our team voted to accept the Oregon game, they really pointed at this game. They wanted to qualify for this game. It was a feeling the staff, the team had all along. There's no other place for us to play. We're right where we needed to be."

Miles said the team was relatively quiet on the tripbut was eager to get started. The Tigers practiced earlier Wednesday in Baton Rouge, had a meeting and then boarded the buses.

"We'd run our share of practices in a row at our indoor facility," he said. "They wanted to get on site."

The game is filled with intrigue since LSU beat the Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5. Several Alabama players felt the better team didn't win, while at least one LSU player, Will Blackwell, said it's the Tigers that should have a chip on their shoulder having to play a rematch.

"I don't know that there's any chip on our shoulders," Miles said. "I don't think there needs to be a chip on the shoulders of an undefeated football team. The things they've accomplished stand for themselves. This team needs to finish.

"They understand there's one piece to attain, one goal left. I promise you they will play extremely hard to that end."